Owens and Cleveland State University Sign Transfer Agreement, Announce Scholarship

Owens Community College Arts and Science graduates now will be able to
transfer smoothly as juniors - and have the opportunity to receive a
$2,000 scholarship to Cleveland State University.

During a joint news conference Thursday at Owens, Daniel H. Brown, Owens
President, and Dr. William Shorrock, Cleveland State Vice Provost for
Academic Affairs, signed an agreement creating a seamless transfer system
for students from the community college to the four-year institution.

"This important agreement will stimulate degree completion by guaranteeing
transferability of credits. It represents a unique precedent of
collaboration between our institutions as it removes traditional barriers
to the smooth and efficient transfer from two-year to four-year programs,"
Dr. Shorrock said. "We are delighted that we can now offer open access to
students who desire a seamless transition from associate to baccalaureate
level programs."

Dr. Shorrock also announced that the University will extend its community
college scholarship program to include Owens' associate degree graduates
from 1999 or subsequent years, with a cumulative grade point average of
3.25 or higher. These graduates automatically will receive a
$2,000 scholarship to the University.

This is the first articulation agreement Cleveland State University has
signed outside of Northeastern Ohio.

"I am especially proud that our faculties have worked together to craft
this agreement," Dr. Shorrock added. "Their cooperative efforts reflect
the highest priority the College and University place on serving
students."

Owens' change in status in July 1994 from a technical college to a
comprehensive community college allows the first two years of a bachelor's
degree to be offered, as well as the technical career-oriented associate
degrees and certificates the College has specialized in for 34 years.
Owens now has signed 16 agreements, with institutions including The Ohio
State University, University of Michigan, University of Toledo, Bowling
Green State University, Lourdes College and University of Findlay.

"This articulation agreement demonstrates our commitment to serving the
ever-increasing educational needs of students and communities throughout
Ohio," President Brown said. "These agreements are critical in providing
area residents with access to quality higher education at an affordable
price."

&nbspLast fall, there were 2,135 students enrolled in Owens' Associate of Arts
and Associate of Science degree programs.

Cleveland State University offers more than 115 major fields of study at
the baccalaureate, master's and doctoral levels to men and women of the
metropolitan Cleveland area, serving 16,300 students.

Established in 1964 as a state university, Cleveland State University
adopted the buildings, faculty, staff and programs of Fenn College, a
private institution of 2,500 students in downtown Cleveland. In 1969, the
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law merged with the University. The present
campus consists of 82 acres with 37 buildings for teaching, research,
housing, administration and recreation, and is a striking feature on the
Cleveland skyline.

Owens Community College is the fastest-growing college in Ohio, offering
more than 100 career-oriented programs and majors in agriculture,
business, health, public service, industrial and engineering technologies.
With nearly 16,000 students enrolled on the Toledo-area and Findlay
campuses, Owens offers its students small classes, personal attention and
the lowest tuition in Northwest Ohio.

Owens has served Northwest Ohio for 34 years and has experienced a 74
percent increase in enrollment with 14 consecutive semesters of growth
since becoming a comprehensive community college in July 1994.